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Book Details

ISBN 139781849512022

Paperback408 pages

Book Description

The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) is a freely distributed piece of software for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring, and is a viewed by many as a rival to commercial applications like Photoshop. The GIMP is one of Open Source's legendary applications – renowned for its power and flexibility, but daunting to new users and with a steep learning curve to mastery.

This book is packed with answers to get you preparing great images with the GMP immediately. Even if you are a relative novice to this powerhouse application, the straightforward instructions will guide you through the tasks to unleash your true creativity without being hindered by the system.

GIMP 2.6 Cookbook begins with simple tasks like drawing and painting and then moves into the deeper and more rewarding areas of filters, effects, text, and fonts. You will learn how to create fantastic logos, scintillating effects, and beautiful backgrounds. Experiment with color and sharpness and also create a web design layout for your website. Imagine how great you will feel when you are equipped to create wonderful images that can give your website a much-deserved makeover.

Straightforward instructions guide you through tasks with the GIMP to unleash your true creativity without being hindered by the complexity of the system

Practical recipes with real results:

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Using Draw and Paint Tools

Introduction

Creating an orb using different paint tools

Blending colors

How to paint a sky and clouds

From sketch to finished piece: creating a cartoon of yourself

Chapter 2: Image Filters and Effects

Introduction

Using Blur

Using Distorts

Using Light and Shadow

Using Noise

Using Edge-Detect

Using Artistic

Using Decor

Using Map

Using Render

Using web design-oriented filters

Using logo-creation filters

Chapter 3: Text and Fonts

Introduction

Creating a quick logo for your company

Creating 3D text

Creating glowing text effects

Creating shining plastic text

Creating gold text

Creating icy cold text

Creating fiery text

Creating paper cutout text

Creating rubber stamp text

Chapter 4: Photo Manipulation

Introduction

Scaling an image

Cropping an image

Flipping or rotating an image

Improving low-light photos

Scaling an image without deformation (Liquid Rescaling)

Creating a diorama effect (simulating depth of field)

Creating HDR photos

Creating a black and white postcard with a color touch

Chapter 5: Playing With Color and Sharpness

Introduction

Removing red eyes from a picture

Coloring black and white pictures

Removing objects from an image

Removing backgrounds

Creating surreal picture manipulations

Adding graffiti to a photo

Cleaning objects

Correcting facial imperfections

Chapter 6: Web Design Tips: Buttons and Blogs

Introduction

Creating a simple Web 2.0 style web design layout from scratch

Creating custom glossy buttons

Creating an Art Nouveau inspired blog template

How to create an Impressionist inspired template

Creating headers for your blog/website

Chapter 7: Web Design Tips: Backgrounds

Introduction

Creating a colorful abstract background

Creating a green time-machine background

Creating a light spikes background

Creating a retro dots background

Chapter 8: Plugins and Scripts

Introduction

Installing plugins and scripts

Using the 3D Screenshot script

Using the Midnight Sepia script

Using the Star Scape script

Using the Antique Photo Border script

Using the National Geographic script

Using the Watermark script

Using the Save for Web plugin

Using the DBP Plugin

What You Will Learn

Draw and paint using the GIMP

Use filters and effects to modify an image as per your needs

Play with text and fonts to create logos, 3D text, and glowing effects

Manipulate images by scaling, cropping, flipping, and rotating

Play with color and sharpness to create exciting and unexpected results

Create beautiful and attractive images that can work as website backgrounds

Install and use plugins and scripts

Authors

Juan Manuel Ferreyra

Juan Manuel Ferreyra is an illustrator and animator from Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is 34 and lives with his cat. Although he started drawing at a young age, computers caught all his attention, and he worked in the IT world for many years. He dropped out from Computer Engineering and started studying filmmaking, working on his own projects and as a freelance illustrator in his free time. After a few years, he decided to leave the IT world and started working as a full time freelance illustrator and animator; his website is http://www.omykron.com.ar. The cat is happy.

Alerts & Offers

Series & Level

We understand your time is important. Uniquely amongst the major publishers, we seek to develop and publish the broadest range of learning and information products on each technology. Every Packt product delivers a specific learning pathway, broadly defined by the Series type. This structured approach enables you to select the pathway which best suits your knowledge level, learning style and task objectives.

Learning

As a new user, these step-by-step tutorial guides will give you all the practical skills necessary to become competent and efficient.

Beginner's Guide

Friendly, informal tutorials that provide a practical introduction using examples, activities, and challenges.

Essentials

Fast paced, concentrated introductions showing the quickest way to put the tool to work in the real world.

Cookbook

A collection of practical self-contained recipes that all users of the technology will find useful for building more powerful and reliable systems.

Blueprints

Guides you through the most common types of project you'll encounter, giving you end-to-end guidance on how to build your specific solution quickly and reliably.

Mastering

Take your skills to the next level with advanced tutorials that will give you confidence to master the tool's most powerful features.

Starting

Accessible to readers adopting the topic, these titles get you into the tool or technology so that you can become an effective user.

Progressing

Building on core skills you already have, these titles share solutions and expertise so you become a highly productive power user.